House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and District I Representative Beng Climaco has filed 42 house bills and resolutions and co-authored 203 house measures of national and local significance in 2012.

Climaco, who is winding her second term in Congress, is one of the co-authors of 9 national laws that include Republic Act 103001 creating four additional branches of Regional Trial Court in Zamboanga, RA 10349 or the Revised AFP Modernization Program and RA 10351 or the Sin Tax Law.

“In my two terms I am a proud mother who gave birth to RA 9710 the Magna Carta of Women”, the lady solon declared as she thanked the City’s Gender and Development (GAD) Focal point for its role in crafting of the law.

Climaco in 2012 also presided in more than 25 plenary sessions together with the approval of budgets for national government agencies.

“Working with the sentors, we were able to respond to the concerns of our people in Mindanao as a member of the Joint Congressional Power Commission”, Climaco said in her State of the District Report presented to the City Council recently.

She represented Congress in the Mindanao Power Summit and later filed legislation on Mindanao Power Corporation to protect Agus and Pulangi hydroelectric resources.

“We need to work with the Department of Energy and all its attached agencies and Zamcelco to harness energy and make sure electricity at an affordable cost, be available to electric consumers particularly those in the industry, business sector and the households”.

By linking with government agencies, the District 1 solon ensured that the voice of the city is heard in the Agenda of Government. “The framework agreement with the MILF was a key accomplishment of the Aquino administration and this representation is part of the consultative core in Congress to ensure transparency in all dealings”.

As one of the leaders of the House of Representatives, Climaco had been tasked to represent Speaker Feliciano Belmonte in various functions with foreign dignitaries and conferences such as the declaration of commitment to implement the UN Convention Against Corruption.

And as a head of the Social Services Cluster with 12 committees under it in Congress, Climaco is instrumental in the passage of 4 national laws and 134 local laws. She likewise completed various training courses here and abroad that further honed and sharpened her leadership skills.

“Gran agradecimiento yo con Dios y con ustedes kay nunca na mi vida iyo ya pensa que queda presiding officer del Sanggunian y ahora na Camara. Presiding over 285 members of Congress and helping craft legislation that would uplift the lives of Filipinos is an opportunity of a lifetime”, she said adding “last January 23, I banged the gavel in my presiding duty for the 15th Congress. It was significant because we filed a resolution to uphold the sovereignty of the Philippines under the United Nations Law of the Seas on the West Philippine Sea. Ta cre iyo que di mio experiencia ta dale conmigo ambos capacidad de servicio para todo”. — Marvin Segura